The murky waters of flag waving

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Flag fury
Local supporters have been threatened with bans if they are caught carrying the flags of other teams competing in the World T20 competition. The BCB have waded in, saying they "noticed" Bangladeshis flying other flags and "flouting the country's flag rules".

The ruling has been there for a while, but came to the fore during the recent Asia Cup, when locals were seen waving Pakistani flags. This particular incident caused a great deal of outrage given the history between the two nations, who were at war in 1971, up to which point Bangladesh was part of Pakistan. The conflict claimed a reported three million lives from the Bangladeshi side alone.

Still, it didn't stop Javed Miandad claiming that the ban violates the spirit of the game while others claimed it to be an attack on Pakistan.

It's obviously not a great rule and something that needs to be addressed, but let's not pretend it's anything other than a law put into effect in 1972, by a newly-formed country in a state of destruction and reconstruction.

As it happens, today marks Bangladesh's 44th Independence Day celebration. Speaking of which…

Sing when you're singing
To mark Independence Day today, the ministry of culture went about setting a world record for the largest number of people to sing a country's anthem simultaneously. The full Bangladesh team took part in the event this morning at 11am sharp in the Mirpur stadium. Sadly, they were unable to be counted towards the world record as they were not within the permitted radius.

Thankfully, their numbers weren't needed as 254,861 people gathered at the National Parade Ground to belt out the anthem and more than double the previous Guinness World Record. The photos look spectacular.

Highway to the Sports Zone
Good news - Cox's Bazar Sports Zone, once presented as a venue for World Twenty20, has finally been completed and is ready for use! OK, a bit of background.

The area itself, located in the south-eastern corner of Bangladesh, has been subject to a development boom that has seen it arise as the key tourist jaunt in the country. But because of a mixture of illegally built shops and environmental issues, the boom ceased and Cox's Bazar has been moving at a snail's pace.

Plans that the venue would host a handful of World T20 matches, as well as some of the women's competition, were dropped last December because of the slow development of the stadium.

From today till March 29, Cox's Bazar will host Anjan's University Beach Cricket 2014 competition. Eight universities will compete for the chance to "Beat The Beach" - their slogan, not ours - with three different sponsors together contributing an eight lakh budget.

It's not quite World Twenty20. But it will have to do.

Dew Decimation System
It seems even the ICC have lost their rag with dew, feeling that now captains are simply electing to bowl first to avoid having to work with a damp ball.

ICC's own pitches consultant Andy Atkinson is said to have been in talks with the Delhi and District Cricket Association and their curator Venkat Sundaram to discuss the use of a chemical agent to combat dew. This anti-dew agent has been used in India since the first edition of the IPL in 2008 and DDCA president Sneh Bansal has confirmed to the Times of India that they are in discussions to send the chemical across to Bangladesh.

Ticket confusion
Many Bangladesh fans could have done without watching their capitulation against the West Indies yesterday. To be fair to the BCB, they did their best to help them out.

The majority of tickets sold actually had the incorrect time on them, stating a 3.30pm instead of a 7.30pm start. ESPNcricinfo's own Mohammad Isam was submerged with queries about the correct start, while the country's biggest newspaper also had to wade in and provide clarification.

Those who still rocked up four hours early could always pass the time listening to five-and-a-half renditions of the Sri Lankan national anthem.

It will not help Bangladeshi Cricket, they have been very slow to prosper and should remember who stood up for them in the ICC when they were facing a possible ban from tests in the early 2000s. Within 30 days they have lost to Hong Kong and Afghanistan at home, gloom is gathering around their sport which will disappoint Bangladeshis and Cricketing World, the Govt. trying to force a statement so clumsily would end up as a self mockery nothing else! Hope they show up sports man spirit!

Posted by drnaveed
on (March 27, 2014, 9:10 GMT)

why ICC is still sleeping. it should have taken immediate action than and there , ofcourse , if its a neutral department, and if it had wanted to ??? . the BD higher officials and their government , should keep in mind that their present pro-indian government is not going to last for ever , i time will come when pro-Pakistani government will come , and than things and the whole scenario will completely change and will become the opposite , hatred for one team and love for the other . only one , than , who would be puzzled would be their cricket fans...

Posted by &nbsp
on (March 27, 2014, 9:00 GMT)

Plz keep out politics out of sports .Take lesion from west fight inside the ground and prove you are better sports man then other .Canada and USA England and France they have instance game Why not Pakistan India or Pakistan Bangladesh

Posted by &nbsp
on (March 27, 2014, 8:50 GMT)

As a pakistani of origin, I have always supported Bangladesh team when they have played other than pakistani team. So I will say this is a childish ban, and it will backfire on Bangladesh team.

Posted by Hassaan13
on (March 27, 2014, 8:45 GMT)

Bangladesh Cricket Board should rethink on this decision and change it. I am from Pakistan and we all want Bangladesh cricket to flourish, but such decisions are against the true spirit of game. Everyone should be allowed to cheer for his favourite team and support it. According to this decision, if Pakistan and West Indies are playing a match, then no one can wave their flag in the stadium as no one is allowed to raise any other flag except of BNG in the stadium. This is so ridiculous. So they should change this.

Posted by getsetgopk
on (March 27, 2014, 8:22 GMT)

As a Pakistani, its really good to know that BD is still in the past, keep it up

Posted by omairhr
on (March 27, 2014, 8:17 GMT)

Are they going to check IDs of all fans to confirm if they are Bangladeshi or not?

Posted by fransaree
on (March 27, 2014, 8:15 GMT)

Wish Just Wish, Make sportsmanship ALIVE every where, while playing, watching & writing some thing. Sport must come first. To be honest, it seems that Writer is BIASED & don't know the FACTS. I don't want to go in details but just request, "LET SPORTS GET OUT OF POLITICS".

Posted by From_Sweden
on (March 27, 2014, 8:15 GMT)

I am wondering if this move has some connection to the action taken by Indian authorities against the student in a university who celebrated Afridi's Sixes?

Posted by &nbsp
on (March 27, 2014, 8:11 GMT)

Dear Bangladeshis please show your maturity and cheer the good game whoever is playing, Hope decision will be change to allow you to enjoy the game. Be positive, Be sportsman.